Lighter wind protector

ABSTRACT

A lighter wind protector is disclosed herein which has a lighter hole sized and configured to receive a lighter. The lighter is inserted into the lighter hole until a lighter head is aligned to a flame hole defined by an end wall Sidewalls of the protector block the wind to prevent the wind from blowing out the flame of the lighter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/668,899, filed Jul. 6, 2012, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The lighter wind protector is directed to a device for blocking wind so that the user can light a cigarette or other combustible material in windy conditions.

Lighters for cigarettes are built with a flame guard to block wind from blowing out the flame produced by the lighter. Unfortunately, the flame guard is oftentimes insufficient to block the wind. As a workaround, people will cover the lighter with their hand to prevent the wind from blowing out the flame. In other situations, the smoker will ask other people to stand around the lighter to create a zone of still wind so that the user can light his or her cigarette.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved device to help smokers in maintaining the flame of the lighter in windy conditions.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The lighter wind protector discussed herein addresses the needs discussed above, discussed below and those that are known in the art.

The lighter wind protector may be sized and configured to fit around a lighter. It produces a zone of still air around the ignition mechanism so that the user can light a cigarette or other combustible material in windy conditions. The protector may have sidewalls that block the wind and prevent the wind from blowing out the flame. The lighter may slide into an “off” position and an “on” position. In the “on” position, a lighter head is recessed further into the sidewalls of the protector to maximize the zone of still air around the ignition mechanism of the lighter. The thumbwheel and gas lever of the lighter are still accessible with the person's thumb in both the “on” and “off” positions.

More particularly, a lighter wind protector for blocking wind to mitigate flame blowout when lighting a combustible material is disclosed. The protector may comprise a body. The body may have an entry through hole for receiving a lighter at a first portion of the body. The body may have a second portion having a flame opening and a trigger opening. The flame opening may be sized and configured to accommodate a flame therethrough when the lighter is lit for igniting the combustible material. The trigger opening may be sized and configured to accommodate a trigger of the lighter therethrough so that a user has access to the trigger for producing the flame. The flame opening may be located at the distal end of the body. The trigger opening may be on a side of the body.

The trigger may be a thumbwheel or a push button switch.

The body may be fabricated from a fire resistant material. Alternatively, the inner surfaces of the body may be lined with a fire resistant material and/or heat insulation material. In this case, the body may be fabricated from a rubber or plastic material.

The entry through hole may match a cross sectional shape of a gas tank of a lighter.

The body may define first and second sidewalls which define the trigger opening. An end wall may define the flame opening. The body may have a cut out at the trigger opening so that the user's finger or thumb may access the trigger. By way of example and not limitation, the user's finger or thumb may be inserted into the trigger opening to operate the trigger. In the alternatively, the trigger may extend out of the trigger opening.

A depth of the entry through hole may be less than a height of the lighter so that a finger sized bottom portion of the lighter extends out of the entry through hole. Alternatively, a depth of the entry through hole may be equal to a height of the lighter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a lighter wind protector and lighter;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the lighter wind protector shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of the first embodiment of the lighter wind protector shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a lighter wind protector and lighter;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lighter wind protector shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the lighter wind protector shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the lighter wind protector shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the lighter wind protector shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, a lighter wind protector 10, 10 a is shown. The lighter wind protector 10, 10 a blocks the wind so that the user can operate the lighter 12 without having to block the wind with his or her hand and without having to ask another person to block the wind so that the user can light a cigarette 14 or other combustible material. The lighter wind protector 10, 10 a may be sized and configured to receive the lighter 12 so that the user can slip the lighter 12 into the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a. When the lighter 12 is inserted into the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a, a thumbwheel 16 is exposed and accessible to a thumb 18 of the user. The user rotates the thumbwheel 16 with his or her thumb and presses down on the gas lever 20 shown in FIG. 3. The flame 22 may extend out of the flame hole 24 and rise up outside of the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. If the wind is sufficiently strong, then the lighter 12 may be slid back to an “on” position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. As shown, the ignition mechanism 27 is recessed deeper so as to create a larger zone of still air around the ignition mechanism 27. Accordingly, the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a blocks the wind so that the wind does not put out the flame 22 while trying to light the cigarette 14 or combustible material. The lighter 12 may also be slid forward as shown in dash lines in FIG. 2 if conditions are not windy to maximize the flame extending out of the flame hole 24.

More particularly, the lighter wind protector 10 may have a body 26 which may have any external configuration. The body 26 may define a lighter cavity 28 which receives the lighter 12. The lighter cavity 28 (see FIG. 1) may have an entrance hole 30 (see FIG. 1). The entrance hole 30 shown in FIG. 1 may have the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of a longitudinal axis 32 of the lighter 12. Moreover, an entire length 34 of the lighter cavity 28 may also have the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the longitudinal axis 32 of the lighter 12. The entrance hole 30 and the inner surface of the lighter cavity 28 may be sized and configured so as to have a snug fit with the exterior surface of the lighter 12. The snug fit is achieved when the lighter 12 can be inserted into the entrance hole 30 and disposed within the lighter cavity 28 and removed therefrom by hand but when the lighter 12 is disposed within the lighter cavity 28, the lighter 12 does not fall out of the lighter cavity 20 when the entrance hole 30 is pointing downward. Optionally, the bottom end of the body 26 may have a cap or cover to assist with holding the lighter 12 within the body 26.

Although the entrance hole 30 and the lighter cavity 28 is described as having the same configuration as the lighter 12, it is also contemplated that the starter portion 36 of the hole 30 a may be larger to aid in the insertion of the lighter 12 into the lighter cavity 28. The starter portion 36 may be flared outwardly and produce a larger entrance hole 30 a as shown in FIG. 1. When inserting the lighter 12 into the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a, the user will have an easier time inserting the flame guard 38 of the ignition mechanism into the entrance hole 30 a. A portion 40 of the interior surface of the lighter cavity 28 forms a snug friction fit with the lighter 12 to prevent inadvertent dislodging of the lighter 12 from the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a.

The length 34 of the lighter cavity may be sufficiently long so that a finger sized portion 42 (see FIG. 3) of the lighter 12 extends out of the entrance hole 30, 30 a when the lighter 12 is fully inserted into the cavity 28. The user can grasp the finger sized portion 42 of the lighter 12 to pull the lighter 12 out of the lighter cavity 28. Alternatively and in the preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that the bottom end 44 of the lighter 12 may be flush with the bottom end 46 of the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a by adjusting the length 34 of the lighter cavity. In this instance, to remove the lighter 12 from the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a, the user pushes the gas lever 20 or the top of the flame guard 38 in the direction of arrow 48 (see FIG. 3) so that a finger sized portion 42 of the lighter 12 extends out of the entrance hole 30, 30 a. The user can now grasp the finger sized portion 42 to remove the lighter 12 from the lighter cavity 28 and the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a. When the lighter 12 is fully inserted into the cavity 28, the protector is in the “off” position. When the lighter 12 extends slightly out of the cavity 28 (see solid lines in FIG. 2), the protector may be characterized as being in the “on” position.

The insertion depth of the lighter 12 into the lighter cavity 20 may be regulated by an optional nub 50 (see FIG. 3) at the end of the lighter cavity 28 or other means such as friction fit. The nub 50 interferes with the flame guard 38 of the lighter 12. When the flame guard 38 contacts the nub 50, the lighter 12 can no longer be inserted into the lighter cavity 28. The length 34 of the lighter cavity 28 may be sized so that the end 44 of the lighter 12 is either flush with the distal end 46 of the body 26 of the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a or extends out of the end 46 as shown and discussed above. It is also contemplated that the length 34 of the lighter cavity 28 may be sized so that the end 44 of the lighter 12 is positioned within the cavity 28.

Since the flame guard 38 is aligned to the flame hole 24, the flame 22 shoots out of the lighter 12, through the flame hole 24 and then bends upwardly as shown in FIG. 3 when the lighter is held horizontally. The flame 22 rises upward and the user can light the cigarette 14 or combustible material with the flame 22 extending out of the flame hole 24 or may insert the tip of the cigarette 14 into the flame hole 24.

The body 26 of the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a may also have a thumb cutout 54 which provides thumb access to the thumbwheel 16 and the gas lever 20 of the lighter 12. With the lighter 12 inserted into the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a, the thumbwheel 16 and the gas lever 20 is exposed through the thumb cutout 54 when the flame guard 38 of the lighter 12 butts up against or contacts the nub 50 (i.e. “off” position). The thumbwheel 16 and the gas lever 20 may also be exposed through the thumb cutout 54 when the wind protector 10 is in the “on” position. In windy conditions, the user may traverse the wind protector 10 to the “on” position. In the on position, the user may hold the lighter 12 in the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 3 and pushes down on the thumbwheel 16 to rotate the same. The horizontal position may be used for lighting a pipe. After rotating thumbwheel 16, the user's finger holds down the gas lever 22 to maintain the flame 22. The user's fingers can be wrapped around the bottom end 44 of the lighter 12 to prevent the lighter 12 from being pushed out of the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a. Alternatively, the user may hold the lighter 12 may be in the vertical position for lighting a cigarette. When not in use, the lighter 12 has a snug friction fit with the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a so that the lighter 12 may not be inadvertently dislodged from the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-8, a second embodiment of the lighter wind protector 10 a is shown. The lighter wind protector 10 a is identical to the first embodiment of the lighter wind protector 10 discussed in relation to FIGS. 1-3 except that the flame hole 24 is opposite the thumb cut out 54.

In use, the user may insert the lighter 12 into the wind protector 10 a. The lighter 12 is inserted into the lighter cavity 28 until the flame guard 38 contacts the nub 50. In this position, the thumbwheel 16 and the gas lever 20 are still exposed through the thumb cutout 54 a so that the user can still operate the lighter. The user may provide additional wind protection to the ignition mechanism 27 of the lighter 12 by pushing the lighter 12 in the direction of arrow 64. In this manner, the ignition mechanism is disposed deeper between the sidewalls of the wind protector 10 a. While the user holds the lighter 12 and the wind protector 10 a in the horizontal position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the user may then ignite the lighter 12. The flame will bend upward as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 7-8, air may flow vertically through the flame hole 24 so as to provide oxygen to the ignition mechanism of the lighter 12. Optionally, the sidewalls 56 a, b of the body 26 may have a plurality of air holes 58 that allow air to flow to the ignition mechanism of the lighter to help with combustion of the fuel. The air holes 58 may also be incorporated into the first embodiment of the wind protector 10.

The body 26 may also have a lanyard hole 60 so that a lanyard may be attached to the body 26 to help the user attach the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a to his or her neck, wrist, handbag or other object or personal effects.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of forming the exterior shell of the body of the lighter wind protector 10, 10 a. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighter wind protector for blocking wind to mitigate flame blowout when lighting a combustible material, the protector comprising: a body having an entry through hole for receiving a lighter at a first portion of the body, a second portion of the body having a flame opening and a trigger opening, the flame opening sized and configured to accommodate a flame therethrough when the lighter is lit for igniting a material and the trigger opening sized and configured to accommodate a trigger of the lighter therethrough so that a user has access to the trigger for producing the flame; wherein the flame opening and the trigger opening are on adjacent sides of the body.
 2. The lighter wind protector of claim 1 wherein the trigger is a thumbwheel or a push button switch.
 3. The lighter wind protector of claim 1 wherein the body is fabricated from a fire resistant material.
 4. The lighter wind protector of claim 1 wherein an internal surface of the flame opening is lined with a fire resistant and heat insulation material.
 5. The lighter wind protector of claim 1 wherein the entry through hole matches a cross sectional shape of a gas tank of a lighter.
 6. The lighter wind protector of claim 1 wherein the body is fabricated from a rubber material.
 7. The lighter wind protector of claim 1 wherein the body defines first and second sidewalls which define the flame opening and the trigger opening.
 8. The lighter wind protector of claim 1 wherein the body has a cut out at the trigger opening so that the trigger extends out of the trigger opening.
 9. The lighter wind protector of claim 1 wherein a depth of the entry through hole is less than a height of the lighter so that a bottom portion of the lighter extends out of the entry through hole.
 10. The lighter wind protector of claim 1 wherein a depth of the entry through hole is equal to a height of the lighter. 